Introduction: Setting the Stage for Change
South University was at a pivotal point in the development of their nurse practitioner program and curriculum strategy. When Dr. Jennie Denker was appointed as Assistant Dean of Curriculum and Academic Success, she quickly identified systemic challenges common to nursing education programs across the country: limited resources, high faculty workload, and the need to adapt effectively to online learning environments. Dr. Denker and her team saw an opportunity to enhance certification exam pass rates, increase student engagement, and refresh the curriculum to better meet evolving educational needs.
To address these challenges, SouthU leadership sought a digital learning platform that would modernize their curriculum, support faculty, and improve student outcomes. They turned to Lecturio, a comprehensive digital learning platform, to help overhaul their approach and bring consistency, engagement, and robust analytics to the program.
This new approach resulted in improved student engagement, higher certification exam scores and an eased faculty workload allowing for mentoring and engagement, with further plans to expand Lecturio use across their undergraduate and other university programs.
For a related RN success story, see: Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Nursing Student Success with Lecturio at ORU
Strengthening Nursing Curriculum and Addressing Benchmarking Challenges
At the start of her tenure, Dr. Denker was tasked with making significant curriculum updates after limited program resources had delayed this process, with many of SouthU’s nursing courses having gone several years without revision. During this time, many students and faculty were struggling with the transition to online learning, which resulted in waning levels of engagement. These challenges, combined with difficulty in remediating at-risk students, meant that certification exam pass rates fell to the 60% range — below accreditation benchmarks and the high academic standards SouthU strives to uphold.
Equipping Faculty, Engaging Students: A Platform That Delivers
SouthU implemented Lecturio in the Spring of 2023 and saw meaningful results within the first year. “We were able to do a complete curriculum revision and get the back end of the program set up and consistent within a six-month period. Everything else has just been building on what we put in place then — and it’s working. We’re already seeing the results”, Dr. Denker reflected. By integrating Lecturio’s standardized videos and quizzes directly into their online courses, SouthU established clear, consistent instructional touchpoints for students, whether on campus or online. Faculty were empowered to use the platform’s learning analytics to monitor student progress and intervene early when support was needed.
When asked what made Lecturio stand out from other solutions, Dr. Denker said, “The ease of use, combined with the amount of resources for faculty and students. Faculty can look at analytics and use data to inform their approach, and there’s so many videos related to body systems or assessments, with tools within the platform to support student engagement.”
A True Technical Partnership: Fast, Reliable, and Deeply Engaged
Dr. Denker initially engaged Lecturio’s Customer Success team for onboarding and technical implementation. Lecturio’s team collaborated with SouthU’s instructional designers to ensure seamless grade transfers and content mapping in the school’s Learning Management System (LMS).
“It brought relief to me that there were very knowledgeable people who were able to get in there and make it work. It was amazing to me that no matter what I asked for, there was always so much information that they brought to help support us. My needs and the needs of our college were met every time within a 24-48 hour time period.”
“The Lecturio team’s work shows they not only care about us, but care about their product. They go above and beyond to make sure others know about and can use the platform. It was not a case of just selling it. I have nothing but kudos. In my 25 years as an educator, I have never had a team support any educational endeavors in curriculums and rebuilding programs like the Lecturio team.”
This efficient technical partnership was pivotal in quickly overcoming faculty skepticism and boosting confidence in the new platform, as well as in encouraging student uptake.
Turning Skepticism into Support: Bringing Faculty Onboard
Initially, some faculty members who were more accustomed to traditional teaching methods were skeptical about adopting new instructional technologies. Many were concerned about any potential additional workload. SouthU addressed these concerns by developing onboarding videos and hands-on training sessions that highlighted Lecturio’s user-friendly design and time-saving capabilities.
Over time, faculty realized that Lecturio:
- Provided ready-made, evidence-based instructional materials.
- Streamlined grading and remediation processes.
- Offered centralized, detailed analytics to inform mentoring and early intervention.
Dr. Denker noted that over the course of the semester faculty saw the results not only in their students, but in their own time savings. “The faculty began to realize that Lecturio creates a lighter workload. It frees up time because the core background research for lectures is right there for them.” In addition, “Educators would tell me that they now really have the time to look at individual students and focus on what’s needed to mentor.”
Targeted Remediation: Improved Student Outcomes, Reduced Faculty Workload
Beyond core curriculum delivery, SouthU utilized Lecturio as a targeted remediation tool. Students who struggled—or who had previously failed exams—were given customized assignments in Lecturio. In one instance, a student who had failed a certification exam used a solely Lecturio-based remediation program and successfully passed on the next attempt. With real-time insight into students’ performance, faculty could intervene earlier, offering one-on-one mentoring that directly addressed problem areas.
“Lecturio’s analytics helps faculty to know where the areas of weakness are so that they can mentor. That has been huge, because the methods they were previously using weren’t working. Therefore, students weren’t getting remediated, resulting in obvious outcomes. Faculty now have time freed up because they’re not doing unnecessary paperwork to pinpoint these weak areas,” Dr. Denker added.
Self-Directed Learning, Engaged Students: How Lecturio Changed the Game
Before adopting Lecturio, SouthU students reported inconsistent communication and a lack of clear learning materials. After implementation, students gained access to a structured, comprehensive library of thousands of videos, practice questions, and self-directed learning resources.
Students frequently cited Lecturio videos in discussion forums and study groups, sharing specific content with classmates to clarify complex topics like advanced pathophysiology. Dr. Denker observed that students became more proactive in their learning, regularly seeking additional Lecturio videos to reinforce difficult concepts.
Many students began relying on self-directed study through the video library, especially for complex concepts like physical assessment and advanced pathophysiology. Dr. Denker noted that students were asking for more materials from the library in order to clarify concepts. They used Lecturio materials as reference points for class discussions, showcasing how deeply embedded the content became into the all-around learning of students. if there were “another video I can watch,” indicating their engagement and desire for further learning. Additionally, she observed students using Lecturio to clarify concepts, stating, “Jenny, can you explain this to me?” and then understanding the same material when presented via Lecturio. Students also utilized Lecturio for remediation, with one student successfully passing their certification exam after a Lecturio-based remediation program. Furthermore, students were observed to be actively using the resources, leading to discussions and knowledge sharing.
Results That Speak: 20+ Point Jump in Pass Rates and a Roadmap for Growth
In the first cohort that fully utilized Lecturio in their final courses, pass rates increased 20+ percentage points. This improvement not only met accreditation benchmarks but also renewed confidence within the program. Dr Denker commented, “We can only go up from here … we finally have a consistent resource that can be used from the day they start, all the way through to certification.”
The institution also aims to standardize remediation from day one, leveraging Lecturio’s video library and analytics tools, “We need to think of remediation not just at the end, but throughout the program. Lecturio needs to be there from the start to instill consistent learning habits,” Dr. Denker said. South University’s adoption of Lecturio has reshaped its nursing curriculum by unifying content delivery, bolstering student engagement, and drastically improving certification exam pass rates. Through a combination of robust analytics, comprehensive video content, and dedicated support from both university leadership and Lecturio’s technical team, SouthU has laid a strong foundation for continued success and expansion into other programs.
Dr. Denker concluded, “When you have a product that engages students, meets diverse learning styles, and offers reliable analytics, you set the stage for better outcomes. That’s exactly what Lecturio is doing for SouthU.”
Sources & Further Reading
- Lecturio: lecturio.com/inst/nursing/registered-nurse/
- Similar Success Story: Bridging the Gap: Enhancing Nursing Student Success with Lecturio at ORU